BiG Tips: Want to complain about a bad finance company, lender, insurer, bank, lender, superannuation, investment or financial advise or adviser? Maybe you’re a victim of an online or cyber money, phishing, dating, identity or other scam? See if a person or company is on a banned or warning list. Australia’s Federal and State governments are here to protect you and get your money, identity or more back. Maybe even jail, fine or deregister the scammer.
The number and type of scams has exploded, particularly during and since covid. In response, on 1 July 2023 the Australian Government, via the Australian Competition and Consumer Association (ACCC) launched the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC).
You’ll find some specific scam sites in Wealth, Business, Property and Shares.
Here too are some general scams and scam sites:
Money and Finance
AFCA The Australian Financial Complaints Authority “considers complaints that previously would have been handled by the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Credit and Investments Ombudsman and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal. We are the dispute resolution scheme for financial services. We consider complaints about:
- credit, finance and loans
- insurance
- banking deposits and payments
- investments and financial advice
- superannuation.”
MoneySmart’s (ASIC) list of companies not licensed to give financial advice, or their Online stockbroking scams list. This website “is for all Australians – young or old, rich or poor, investing or paying off debt. We offer free, independent guidance so you can make the best choices for your money. We are not selling you anything. And when life puts your finances under stress, MoneySmart is here to help you ride the storm. We have smart tips on dealing with the ups and downs of life: losing your job, having a baby, divorce or separation, buying a home, losing your partner and many more.” Here’s their warning list of common tricks:
- COVID-19 phishing scams
- Directing you to a fake website
- Stopping you pulling out of the deal
- Threatening legal action
- Using social media to approach you or your friends
- Artificially inflating the share price
- Passing your call along the line
- Calling or emailing you persistently
- Operating from overseas
ASIC suggests you ask questions and request information such as:
- What is your name and what company do you represent?
- Who owns your company?
- Does your company have an AFS licence and what is the licence number?
- What is your address?
- Is your investing prospectus registered with ASIC?
- Check the legitimacy of the person offering the investment
The little black book of scams (Listen Here) from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- The top scams to avoid
- Dating and romance scams
- Investment scams
- Threat and penalty scams
- Unexpected money scams
- Prize and lottery scams
- Online shopping, classifieds and auction scams
- Scams targeting computers and mobile devices
- Identity theft
- Job and employment scams
- Charity and medical scams
- Business scams
- How scams work—the anatomy of a scam
- The golden rules to protect yourself
- Where to find help or support
- Where to report a scam
Scamwatch (by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)) has useful information, warnings, tips and tricks on:
- Banking and online account scams
- Chain letters and pyramid scams
- Health and medical scams
- Identity theft scams
- Investments scams (get rich quick)
- Job and employment scams
- Lottery and competition scams (fake prizes)
- Mobile phone scams
- Money transfer requests (‘Nigerian scams’)
- Online scams
- Personalised scams
- Small business scams
Victoria’s Consumer Action Law Centre is a great resource
Various
Franchises (mediation services) from ACCC
Horticulture (mediation services) from ACCC
Privacy
Telecommunications ACCAN the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network
Health (see more in Consumer watchdogs in Guru Cops)
Friends of Science in Medicine, Aus
Health Direct, Aus
Consumer Health Forum (CHF) they claim: “is the peak organisation providing leadership in representing the interests of Australian healthcare consumers. We work to achieve safe, good quality, timely healthcare for all Australians, supported by the best health information and systems the country can afford.”
Energy and Gas | Oil/Petrol
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